Getting Drunk Or Taking Wild Selfies Completely Voids Some Travel Insurance Plans

There are a lot of things to think about when you're getting ready to travel like flights, accommodation, packing and more but does insurance cross your mind? If you get it for your vacation there are some things you should know. Travel insurance in Canada could be useless if you get injured while drunk or taking dangerous selfies.

According to the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, taking selfies, doing high-risk activities and even getting drunk could actually void your travel health insurance if you get injured.

A survey done by the Travel Health Insurance Association shows that taking selfies in precarious places is an increasing source of injury for Canadians when they travel.

"Understanding what activities might impact coverage, whether it be climbing a mountain or consuming more alcohol than usual, is part of what's required for a good getaway," said Will McAleer, executive director at Travel Health Insurance Association, in a news release.

13 percent of Canadians said that they've been hurt while posing precariously for selfies and that number rises to 18 percent with millennials.

Taking a selfie hanging off the side of a cliff on your vacation might make for a great Instagram photo but if you get injured while doing that your insurance might not cover your medical expenses.

The same goes for any injuries you get while drunk or doing dangerous activities like skydiving or bungee jumping.

Insurance companies can deny your claims for medical expenses if you had too much alcohol in your system at the time of the injury.

"You've got to know what you're buying. You can't assume that what you've bought or what you think you bought is what you actually did buy," Marvin Ryder, a professor of marketing and entrepreneurship with the Degroote School of Business, told the CBC.

Insurance companies don't actually have to tell you if alcohol or doing high-risk activities will void your policy.

Of the people surveyed by the Travel Health Insurance Association, 20 percent admitted to having more than five drinks in two hours while on vacation.

"Everyone deserves a carefree vacation and travel health insurance is designed to pay for unexpected medical emergencies," said McAleer.

Also, on January 1, 2020, people in Ontario will no longer get travel health coverage as part of OHIP. 

That means buying travel insurance will be even more important, and once you have it you don't want to void it. 

Regardless of where you live in Canada, it's important to check your insurance before you travel if you have it or buy insurance if you don't and then be careful while you travel.

There are stories everywhere. If you spot a newsworthy event in your city, send us a message, photo, or video @NarcityCanada on Twitter and Instagram.